Saturday, June 21, 2014

So you know I'm a big basketball fan right? And now that the NBA season is over for this year and the San Antonio Spurs are once again NBA Champs....Every true fan's interest goes to what else....The draft? My Sixers are in a good position...They have about five of six draft picks and lots and lots of cap space...They can rebuild either through the draft or through the acquisition of key free agents...

Two of my co-workers have been bantering with me all week about the possibility of Lebron James opting out of his final year contract with the Miami Heat and signing with the Philadelphia 76ers...

I didn't see this as even a remote possibility..In fact...Everytime one of the two guys have said this...I have laughed my head off....Until yesterday ,when one of my co-workers sent me an email link from Forbes Magazine...

I am going to share this link with you...Mind you, I still don't think it's likely...but then again....Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm-

10 Reasons Why LeBron James Will Sign With The 76ers-
Congratulations to the Spurs for winning the NBA Finals – the best team won without a doubt. And while Tim Duncan celebrates his fifth parade, the aging Miami Heat and LeBron James remain the center of attention.
This was their last year as favorites to win the title and it’s clear the Heat are on the decline while other teams continue to rise. Not even Carmelo Anthony can save the Heat and so the question that everyone will be asking during the off-season is, “Will LeBron opt out of the final year of his contract?” But the question they should be asking is, “When LeBron opts out, which team will he sign with?” And that’s where the fun begins…but first, let’s dive a little deeper into LBJ’s psyche:

LeBron the Mercenary: He’s willing to leave town to win. Whether you loved or hated him for leaving Cleveland, the truth is…he wasn’t going to win there. He carried the Cavs on his back for seven strong years before ultimately realizing that his clock was ticking and he needed to win some championships right away. At 29 years old, he’s got one more long term contract to sign in his prime and he’s gotta see the writing on the walls in Miami.

•LeBron the Billionaire: He’s on the record stating that his goal is to become a billion-dollar athlete. With investments in Liverpool FC, a $30 million pay day following Apple’s recent acquisition of Beats Electronics, and high praise from investment guru Warren Buffett, he’s well on his way. And while he’s guaranteed a max contract no matter where he goes, he’ll need to become “The King” of a bigger market than Miami for endorsement potential, jersey sales, and more.

•LeBron the Lonely: No matter where he ends up, he’ll do so with an entourage. Sure to be at the top of his list in deciding his next employer will be the team’s ability to sign one or two superstars to join him. After salary cap health, he’ll also look at things like supporting cast, coaching, the city itself, and fan power.

While “King James” undoubtedly has a team of trusted advisors discussing options, communicating with teams, and building packages for the almighty to study, his next “decision” will send him to Philly and here are 10 reasons why.

Salary Cap Space: With over $34 million in cap space, the Sixers may very well be in the best fiscal shape of any NBA team.

Young Nucleus: Reigning rookie of the year and 6’6 point guard, Michael Carter-Williams will happily rack up the assists with LeBron’s presence. And 6’11 big man (and projected #1 pick prior to his injury over a year ago) Nerlens Noel provides the rock behind the defense.

NBA Draft: The Sixers have the third and tenth overall picks in one of the strongest draft classes in years. Almost guaranteed to get Andrew Wiggins or Jabari Parker, either talent would mesh perfectly with LBJ. The tenth pick will add another specialist to the mix, like sharpshooter Doug McDermott or wing scorer Gary Harris.

Coaching Staff: Brett Brown’s mentor was Gregg Popovich, who not only beat the Heat in the finals this year, but also commands a ton of respect from James.

Franchise Leadership: Sixers CEO Scott Oneil was in the meetings when the Knicks tried to lure LeBron to New York three years ago, where he surely gained insight to his heart. And when forward-thinking General Manager Sam Hinkie came to Philadelphia last year, it was clear that the Sixers would embed their strategy into advanced analytics. And, while 22 of the 30 NBA teams have an analytics department, Hinkie sets his strategy apart by pointing out that the data he will be collecting is different from the current data used for player evaluation.

Philadelphia Loves Basketball: It’s been a rough few years for Sixers fans, but the city was a top 5 basketball town in terms of attendance when Iverson starred here. The Phillies are fading and the Flyers remain mediocre. That means the up-and-up Sixers could easily rival the Eagles for top of the town with LeBron.

America’s Next Big Tech Town? Philadelphia has seen major startup growth and millennials are flocking to the city to start businesses. The Comcast Innovation and Technology Center will be the third largest building in the U.S. and create thousands of jobs.

Star Power: Before being dubbed “The King,” LeBron’s favorite players (after Jordan) were Allen Iverson and Dr. J. What better ambassadors to provide a tour of the city and some cheesesteak tasting? Even Charles Barkley likes the idea and put his money where his mouth is when quoted, “If they sign LeBron James I would bet a million dollars within five years they might win the championship. I’m telling you they would be that good.”

Survivor’s Remorse: The title of a scripted TV show LeBron is producing for Starz, the story is based on two men from the streets who attain fame. Premiering this fall, the show isn’t based in LeBron’s hometown of Akron, it’s based in Philadelphia – his next town?

Facilities: The Sixers are breaking ground on a state-of-the-art training facility which is expected to be the biggest and best in the U.S upon completion in 2016.

After years of mediocrity, the Sixers are finally committed to building for the future. They built the right coaching staff, traded players, cut salaries, lost a ton of games, acquired draft picks, and pretty much cleaned house. Unlike other sports, the NBA Championship can be won with a few great players. Any team LeBron James plays for becomes an automatic contender. And over the next few years, no team – not the L.A. Lakers in the highly competitive Western Conference nor the salary-ridden New York Knicks – provides a better opportunity than the Philadelphia 76ers.

This is starting to make a lot more sense to me and now after reading this ...I don't think I'll be laughing when they talk about Lebron or Carmelo Anthony for that matter coming here to Philly to play...

Anything is Possible....These little things are what make life livable! Stay Tuned!

ABOUT ME

I am a native of Philadelphia PA, USA; attended Darby-Colwyn High School 1973-76; attended Shippensburg University and majored in Journalism 1976-81; charter member of Kappa Omega Chapter, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity; served in US Air Force Reserves 1984-2006. I'm also a husband, father, and grandfather. My birthday is March 24th and my sun sign is Aries (The Ram). And, just so we're clear, let's establish from the door, Aries rules! Okay?

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Cheeseburger and Fries Casserole
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Before you laugh, your kids will love this...Hear me out...
Kids will love this because it combines two of their favorite
foods...Cheeseburgers and French...

1 day ago

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